Drive Your Performance Car Through Winter

No doubt, summer will always serve as high season for our high-performance rides and all the gnarly things we do with them. Close your eyes and remember just how good last summer’s heat felt as you hit the drift.

Now, snap out of it!

If that harsh blast of cold air hasn’t slapped you back to reality, maybe this will—it’s over. The summer is over. And with it went any chance you have of driving your high-performance machine anywhere – particularly if it’s rear-wheel drive – except perhaps right into a ditch now that snow and ice season has arrived. Unless of course, you’re one of those lucky souls fortunate to live in a climate where it’s always a comfortable 72 degrees, or you’ve given some thought to winter tires. Back in the day, they used to be called “snow tires” but not so much now since they’re designed to perform in a variety of winter conditions, including snow, ice, slush and low temperatures.

Notice also that we’re not talking about “all-season” tires here, which is what most vehicles on the road today are equipped with. There’s a difference, and it’s a big one. Some vehicle enthusiasts, particularly those who engage their street-legal vehicle in on-track racing and driving competitions, refer to all-season tires as “no-season tires.” They use that moniker because even though all-season tires do the job admirably for a majority of drivers, they can’t perform as well as dedicated winter tires or summer tires. Road & Track has an interesting take on that issue.

That’s because tire makers optimize their tire and tread compounds based on what type of tire they’re building. If it’s a winter tire, for example, the tire’s rubber and chemical compounds are designed for maximum performance in freezing temperatures, much the same way that race tires are designed to deliver at high temperatures. Tire industry trade groups continually work to educate drivers about the difference winter or snow tires offer.

According to a recent article in Tire Business magazine, “The idea that winter tires are only needed for snow-covered or icy roadways is outmoded and belies the superior cold-weather performance made possible by advances in winter tire technology,” said Glenn Maidment, president of the Rubber Association of Canada. “Today’s sophisticated winter tires feature specialized rubber compounds that retain elasticity at temperatures well below -30°C (-22°F).”

Outfitting vehicles with winter tires is routine in Europe, particularly on high-performance vehicles, and required by law in Quebec, Canada, where traffic accident injuries in winter declined five percent following the implementation of a 2008 law requiring snow tires, according to research from the Quebec Transportation Industry and reported in that same article .

In addition to rubber compounds that are designed for winter performance, these tires also feature tread designs that maximize stopping and steering ability on snow, slush and ice. And the good news is that most every major tire company makes their own version of it.

“Rather than keeping their fun-to-drive cars in the garage during the cold season, drivers have the opportunity to enjoy them, even in the middle of the winter,” said Brandy Gadd, Goodyear brand manager.

For areas where ice-covered roads or packed-snow conditions dominate the winter driving season, drivers might want to consider using snow tire studs. The studs are metal pins that protrude from the tire surface and “bite” into ice and packed snow. Snow tire studs are noisy on dry roads, however, and performance and handling can suffer too.

Another alternative for added winter traction are tire chains. Sized to fit your vehicle’s tires, tire chains can be installed without having to lift the vehicle or even move it, making them an excellent resource to keep in the vehicle and install when bad weather strikes.

And finally, it’s important to remember that winter tires shouldn’t just be fitted to the vehicle’s drive wheels, but rather all wheel positions in order to maintain control.

Often the biggest obstacle to drivers using snow tires is the cost of having an extra set of tires. What has to be figured into that equation, however, is the cost of missing a day of work, being involved in an accident, or having to park your vehicle for the winter if you’re not using the right tires for the season.

Editor’s note: Slide on over to Advance Auto Parts for a wide selection of tire chains, accessories, roadside safety kits and more.

Comments

You guys rock! Went to store 8629 In Katy, TX on 1/15/14. Spoke to Jim Boleti (sp?). He advised me re: my 95 Honda Civic valve cover & oil pan gasket/oil filter/oil. Very patient, informative. Even took the time to come outside and look at my engine and watch to see if I was burning oil. Outstanding service! I drove a little way to the Katy store because I always get the best products at the best price and the very best customer service. Kudos to Jim and Advance Auto Parts. Again…you guys rock!